Owen left out of England Squad.

[Sparky]

Yea I follow them as the old man is a Scouser. So yea I can see why you are saying England should get more from him. But my problem is why cant people see that Barry doesnt bring anything to the England team.

When we beat Germany 5-1 in 2001 did we play with a holding midfielder? No we didnt, we went out and destroyed a quality German team. So why now in modern football do we need to play one against Kazakstan?

Lampard should be in the England team as you shown above he scores goals and so should Gerrard just because he can do something out of nothing. Can Gareth Barry when we need a goal, when the team is playing crap (like Andorra away). No you wont think of Barry's name but if you play Gerrard and Lamps together then you have two names who can do something out of nothing.

Holding midfielders are ruining the game. Where were they in 2001 or 2002? When we were playing good football tearing the Danes and Argies apart? And when we gave the Brazilians a run for their money?

Rant over.

Yeah fair point although when Gerrard 1st came in to the side he was supposed to be a holding midfielder

Go back four years to the 98 world cup and we had Ince and Batty , 2 holding midfielders

[Uncle Albert]

Yeah fair point although when Gerrard 1st came in to the side he was supposed to be a holding midfielder

Go back four years to the 98 world cup and we had Ince and Batty , 2 holding midfielders

But we werent playing good football then were we? We had Hoddle in charge.

[dandannieldanok]

Yea I follow them as the old man is a Scouser. So yea I can see why you are saying England should get more from him. But my problem is why cant people see that Barry doesnt bring anything to the England team.

When we beat Germany 5-1 in 2001 did we play with a holding midfielder? No we didnt, we went out and destroyed a quality German team. So why now in modern football do we need to play one against Kazakstan?

Lampard should be in the England team as you shown above he scores goals and so should Gerrard just because he can do something out of nothing. Can Gareth Barry when we need a goal, when the team is playing crap (like Andorra away). No you wont think of Barry's name but if you play Gerrard and Lamps together then you have two names who can do something out of nothing.

Holding midfielders are ruining the game. Where were they in 2001 or 2002? When we were playing good football tearing the Danes and Argies apart? And when we gave the Brazilians a run for their money?

Rant over.

Agreed again mate with all of that, holding midfielders are bloody dull, especially Gareth sodding Barry. The mentality of some football managers is baffling nowadays, just think Barry could easily have transferred for £15m+ when Chelsea picked up the brilliant Deco for £8m, it's ludicrous how so many people rate this kind of player.

[JakeShingler]

I think at this moment in time Heskey is better than Owen.

[Samilktray]

I think at this moment in time Heskey is better than Owen.

Youve got to be fooking kidding.

[Sparky]

Agreed again mate with all of that, holding midfielders are bloody dull, especially Gareth sodding Barry. The mentality of some football managers is baffling nowadays, just think Barry could easily have transferred for £15m+ when Chelsea picked up the brilliant Deco for £8m, it's ludicrous how so many people rate this kind of player.

Good debate but then again how much of an impact did Senna have for Spain in the Euros ?

Chelsea were at thier best with Makelele in the side

How good were City with Bruno Ngotty in the role

[Uncle Albert]

Agreed again mate with all of that, holding midfielders are bloody dull, especially Gareth sodding Barry. The mentality of some football managers is baffling nowadays, just think Barry could easily have transferred for £15m+ when Chelsea picked up the brilliant Deco for £8m, it's ludicrous how so many people rate this kind of player.

Mascherano £20 million.

Makelele £16 million.

Hargreaves £18 million.

Alonso £10.5 million.

Deco £8 million.

Modric £15 million.

Lampard £8 million.

Fabregas free.

Ballack free.

Ridiculous.

[Sparky]

I think at this moment in time Heskey is better than Owen.

Youve got to be fooking kidding.

I would re word that to say Heskey must play

My list of pairings at this time would read

Heskey and Rooney

Heskey and Owen

Owen and Rooney

[Sparky]

Mascherano £20 million.

Makelele £16 million.

Hargreaves £18 million.

Alonso £10.5 million.

Deco £8 million.

Modric £15 million.

Lampard £8 million.

Fabregas free.

Ballack free.

Ridiculous.

Still would have been free if they were defensive midfielders . But get the point

[dandannieldanok]

Good debate but then again how much of an impact did Senna have for Spain in the Euros ?

Chelsea were at thier best with Makelele in the side

How good were City with Bruno Ngotty in the role

It is a good debate, just look at Chelsea today, everybody waxing lyrical about their brilliance with Lampard and Ballack apparently superb.

[Sparky]

It is a good debate, just look at Chelsea today, everybody waxing lyrical about their brilliance with Lampard and Ballack apparently superb.

Yeah so i hear but was Mikel behind them ?

This is where a lot of coaches differ from fans , a 5 man midfield will always contain a defensive midfilder and so will most 4 s , not many premiership 4 man midfields contain 2 attack minded center midfilders.

Its the same as every fan wants to see 1 man left up for defensive corners yet most sides bring everyone back

[breadandcheese]

Its time Gerrard started giving as much for England as he does for Liverpool . Englands best performance for 7 years and he wasnt part of it . Should be the rocket up his arse he needs

Couldn't agree more. Gerrard for Liverpool is one of the best midfielders in the world, Gerrard for England is not.

I can't help wonder whether he feels the same about England as Jamie Carragher. It would certainly explain how he is able to do the superhuman when pulling on the red shirt of Liverpool, but fail to match the highs for England.

Barry/Lampard for me in the centre of pitch. Lampard is one of the most under-rated central midfielders. He's about far more than just goalscoring as his recent performances for Chelsea show.

As it is, I think Capello will leave Gerrard on the bench for his "injury" that ruled him out against Croatia, yet he played through the pain barrier against Man Utd a few days later.

[Jimmy]

Jermaine Defoe has NEVER performed for England, Owen has NEVER let us down, why the hell has Owen not been recalled

[Sparky]

Couldn't agree more. Gerrard for Liverpool is one of the best midfielders in the world, Gerrard for England is not.

I can't help wonder whether he feels the same about England as Jamie Carragher. It would certainly explain how he is able to do the superhuman when pulling on the red shirt of Liverpool, but fail to match the highs for England.

Barry/Lampard for me in the centre of pitch. Lampard is one of the most under-rated central midfielders. He's about far more than just goalscoring as his recent performances for Chelsea show.

As it is, I think Capello will leave Gerrard on the bench for his "injury" that ruled him out against Croatia, yet he played through the pain barrier against Man Utd a few days later.

Forgot all about him . Jason leonard came out with a fantastic quote . When asked about international retirement he said " i dont expect to play again but when your country comes knocking the you never turn them down "

Jermaine Defoe has NEVER performed for England, Owen has NEVER let us down, why the hell has Owen not been recalled

Yep id go with that as well

[Jimmy]

Couldn't agree more. Gerrard for Liverpool is one of the best midfielders in the world, Gerrard for England is not.

I can't help wonder whether he feels the same about England as Jamie Carragher. It would certainly explain how he is able to do the superhuman when pulling on the red shirt of Liverpool, but fail to match the highs for England.

Barry/Lampard for me in the centre of pitch. Lampard is one of the most under-rated central midfielders. He's about far more than just goalscoring as his recent performances for Chelsea show.

As it is, I think Capello will leave Gerrard on the bench for his "injury" that ruled him out against Croatia, yet he played through the pain barrier against Man Utd a few days later.

thing is Gerrard plays a lot like he does for Liverpool when FAT FRANK is not there, basically as we all know, pick 1 or the other and they will shine

also on Saturday I'd use it to give valuable experience to either Carson or Green as they shouldn't all that much to do in any case

[breadandcheese]

thing is Gerrard plays a lot like he does for Liverpool when FAT FRANK is not there, basically as we all know, pick 1 or the other and they will shine

Fat Frank it is for me.

As I said above, I think Capello will leave Gerrard on the bench for pulling out of the last squad.

[Jimmy]

Fat Frank it is for me.

As I said above, I think Capello will leave Gerrard on the bench for pulling out of the last squad.

I don't, with Joe Cole injured I see a left wing role for Stevie G. How Ashley Young hasn't made the cut I don't know

[JakeShingler]

I would say:

James

Nevile Terry Ferdinand© A.Cole

Beckham Gerrard Barry J.Cole

Rooney Heskey

[Jimmy]

I would say:

James

Nevile Terry Ferdinand© A.Cole

Beckham Gerrard Barry J.Cole

Rooney Heskey

Terry is the full time captain now again and how can you drop Theo after the last game

[Sparky]

I would say:

James

Nevile Terry Ferdinand© A.Cole

Beckham Gerrard Barry J.Cole

Rooney Heskey

Ill give you 50 quid if thats the side , j cole and neville aint even in the squad

[breadandcheese]

I'll get ridiculed for this, but I think Rooney is a problem to fit into the team. Undoubtedly he's a hell of a talent, but he's so difficult to create a partnership with.

The only time he's looked like gelling with a strike partner was playing alongside Louis Saha. He struggled alongside Ruud Van Nistlerooy. Indeed, Fergie's been struggling to pair him up with someone. Instead he's compensated for this in his Man U team with Ronaldo being the quick tall player who gets forward. Now they're trying Berbatov, as his partnership with Tevez is not yielding the goals they would hope.

It's not that I think Rooney's a bad player, more that at international level, we don't have the right players to bring the best out of him. Ideally, he needs to play alongside a tall, quick centre-forward who'll get goals, to compensate for three attributes he doesn't have. Heskey is the closest we have, only he is not a goalscorer and also more of a support striker. In fact, the closest I can think of to a tallish, quick, goalscoring player is Darren Bent, which shows how poor today's English forwards are.

So that leaves the question as to who I think should play up front? Truth is I don't know (as I said, we've got so few quality forwards), but I don't think Rooney should be undroppable.

[lildave3]

I'll get ridiculed for this, but I think Rooney is a problem to fit into the team. Undoubtedly he's a hell of a talent, but he's so difficult to create a partnership with.

The only time he's looked like gelling with a strike partner was playing alongside Louis Saha. He struggled alongside Ruud Van Nistlerooy. Indeed, Fergie's been struggling to pair him up with someone. Instead he's compensated for this in his Man U team with Ronaldo being the quick tall player who gets forward. Now they're trying Berbatov, as his partnership with Tevez is not yielding the goals they would hope.

It's not that I think Rooney's a bad player, more that at international level, we don't have the right players to bring the best out of him. Ideally, he needs to play alongside a tall, quick centre-forward who'll get goals, to compensate for three attributes he doesn't have. Heskey is the closest we have, only he is not a goalscorer and also more of a support striker. In fact, the closest I can think of to a tallish, quick, goalscoring player is Darren Bent, which shows how poor today's English forwards are.

So that leaves the question as to who I think should play up front? Truth is I don't know (as I said, we've got so few quality forwards), but I don't think Rooney should be undroppable.

Dean Ashton. Just a shame he's always bloody injured.

[Jimmy]

Team I want to see

Carson

Johnson Terry Rio Bridge

Walcott Gerrard Barry A. Cole

Heskey Rooney

Team I think we'll see

James

Brown Terry Rio A. Cole

SWP Lampard Barry Gerrard

Crouch Rooney

[Uncle Albert]

Team I want to see.

James

Brown Terry Ferdinand Cole

Wright-Phillips Gerrard Lampard Walcott

Rooney Heskey

Team I will see.

James

Brown Terry Ferdinand Cole

Barry

Gerrard Lampard

Walcott Heskey Rooney

[Finnegan]

Forgot all about him . Jason leonard came out with a fantastic quote . When asked about international retirement he said " i dont expect to play again but when your country comes knocking the you never turn them down "

I think there's a lot more pride and honour in representing your country in rugby, though. There are too many celebrity egos in football these days and international teams are just taken to be almost just another distraction from the Champions League. Just one or two more games in an oh-so-busy schedule. You get the lower key players like Crouchy or whoever and you can really tell it's a massive thing for him to be playing for his country and it's good to see, but the likes of Lamps, Gerrard, Rooney and co have never really given me that sort of vibe.

The likes of Jason Leonard, Lawrence Dallaglio or Martin Johnson would absolutely bleed for England and as much as I love to see you fail I can't help but respect that.

As sad as it is, really, I think that mentality has long since died in (English, at least) football.